Domestic Partner Benefits

Benefits eligible faculty and staff of Northwestern University may enroll his or her same-gender domestic partner in University benefit plans such as the health, dental and vision plans. Premiums deducted paying for coverage of the partner and any eligible children of the partner are deducted on an after-tax basis. If an individual is interested in covering his or her partner, a completed Declaration of Same-Gender Domestic Partner Relationship must be sent to the Benefits Division, 720 University Place, Evanston , IL 60208 and the enrollment process completed for the desired and eligible coverages within 31 days from the date of employment or benefits eligibility. After initial eligibility, an individual enrolled in any of these three plans may add coverage by completing the enrollment process within 31 days from the date of the establishment of the relationship. Coverage is effective the date the relationship was established. Otherwise, an employee may complete the enrollment process to add coverage for a domestic partner during Open Enrollment. Coverage is effective January 1st.

Domestic Partnership Guide

Eligibility
To qualify for coverage under University sponsored benefit plans, an employee and his or her same-gender domestic partner must complete a Declaration of Same-Gender Domestic Partner Relationship form  certifying that they live in a committed relationship and are each other's sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely; are of the same gender; are not related by blood to a degree of closeness which would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which they legally reside; would marry or establish a legally recognized domestic partnership if it were available under the laws of the state in which they live; are jointly responsible for each other's common welfare and share financial obligations which can be demonstrated by providing proof of the existence of at least three of the following:
1) joint mortgage or lease or other appropriate written evidence of common residence such as joint utility bills;
2) designation of domestic partner as primary beneficiary in the domestic partner's will, life insurance plan, or retirement plan;
3) durable property or health care power of attorney;
4) joint ownership of motor vehicle; or
5) joint checking account or joint credit union.

Benefits Available

Insured Benefits. Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage is available to an employee's same-gender domestic partner and eligible children, with contributions at family rates. The additional contributions made by the employee and the University for domestic partner and domestic partner child(ren) coverage is taxable income to the employee.

Tuition Benefits. Benefits under the University's Reduced Tuition Plan are available to an employee's domestic partner and eligible children of the domestic partner.

Benefits are also being extended under the Portable Tuition Plan for eligible children of the domestic partner. Tuition benefits provided to a domestic partner and his or her children are taxable income unless the children are the employee's or are legally adopted by the employee.

Absence Benefits. An employee may take up to 5 of the 10 annual accrued sick days to care for a sick child and other immediate family members. Additional information is provided in the Faculty and Staff Handbooks.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA). FSAs may NOT reimburse the employees for domestic partner medical care or for the care of a domestic partner's dependent.

Use of University Facilities

Wildcard. Same-gender domestic partners will be eligible for University identification cards which can be used for admission to the Sports and Aquatic Center and University libraries.

University Directory. An employee may list his or her domestic partner in the space used for spouse listing in the University directory.

Enrollment
Enrollment forms and the Declaration of Same-Gender Domestic Partner Relationship form  may be obtained by download using Adobe Acrobat Reader or by contacting the Benefits Division via e-mail at benefits@northwestern.edu, or on line at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits, or by telephone at (847) 491-7513, or by picking them up at the Benefits Division, 720 University Place, Evanston, or at the Human Resources Offices at Abbott Hall 710 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago Campus.

If the Domestic Partner relationship terminates, a subsequent Declaration of Same-Gender Domestic Partnership can be filed after six months from the date a Statement of Termination  of the previous partnership has been submitted to the University.

If an individual elects to cover his or her Domestic Partner under any of the University's Health, Vision or Dental Plans and if the relationship ceases, the individual may elect to continue the coverage for his or her Domestic Partner and other covered dependent children for up to 36 months by paying the premium directly to the University. This provision does not apply to the Student Hospitalization or Visiting Scholar Plans.